Shipping crate



e 10 3924. j nmgumw SHIPPING CRATE Filming. 15. 1923 Patented .lune l0,1.9.24.

IJON L. ouINN, or OAK PARK, ILLINoIs, assIeNon To cian-.caco- NzILL ANDLUMFB'ER COMPANY, or cnroaso, ILLINOIS, A coRrOna'rION or ILLINOIS.

SHIPPING CRATE.

Application filed August 15,1923.

To all whom i12/may concern.'

Be it known that I, DON L. QUINN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica,

land a resident of Oak Park, county of Cook,

and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inShipping Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates and particularly crates forfluid containers.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a reusable shippingcrate having` improved means for fastening the cover portion to the mainbody portion which will permit the crate to be conveniently openedwithout destroying any part thereof; to provide a shipping crate whichis adapted to support the container in a tiltable positionto permit itscontents to be readily poured; to provide a crate of this kind whereinthe parts thereof are readily adjustable to permit ready tilting of thecontainer; and to provide a crate of the above description which issimple, inexpensive and durable and which is of convenient form forstorage or shipping purposes.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan of a crate towhich this invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a vertical section of the crate showing the pivoted endportion in an eX- tended position.y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the crate showing t-he parts arrangedfor tiltably supporting the container.

The common form of shipping crate is designed with a view to making themso `inexpensive that they can be profitably used for one-way shipmentsand then destroyed. Usually such crates consist of panel sections nailedtogether and which are broken apart when the crate is opened. The crateherein shown includes improved means for fastening the cover portion ofthe crate to the main portion so as to permit the crate'to beconveniently opened without destroying Serial No. 657,474.

any part thereof. This improved construction provides a reusable cratewhich is practically as inexpensive to manufacture as the cratesheretofore used for only one-way shipments.

Shipping crates heretofore in use for fluidcontainers have beencumbersome to handle and, therefore, to pour out the contents from thecontainer, it has been customary to Vfirst remove the container bodilyfrom the crate. in illustrated, the present invention is applied to aVcrate having relatively adjustable portions arranged to permit the mainportion to be readily converted into a carriage tiltable on the otherportion -to facilitate the pouring of the contents. The particularconstruction herein illustrated is adapted for use in handling the sheetmetal container-s commonly used in the shipment of motor oil. Y

Referring to the drawings, the crate illustrated includes a main bodyportion 1 having pivptally connected thereto an adjustable closureportion 2 which is shiftable into a position for tiltably support-ingthe main portion 1 to vfacilitate the pouring of the contents of acontainer 3, carried in the crate.

In the construction shown, the main crate portion 1 includes 'aplurality of frame bars 4 forming the corners of the crate and to whichare secured transversely disposed slats 5 constituting the walls andbottom.

Formed on the inner faces of the corner bars Ll-, are grooves 6 formingguideways for a pair of oppositely disposed cleats 7, which are arrangedso as to be slidable longitudinally of the crate.

In the form illustrated, the adjustable portion 2 constitutes the coverof the crate and comprises spaced bars 8 connected by slats 9. Formed inthe cross bars 8 are mortises 10 and tenons 11 adapted for engagementwith tenons 12 and mortises 13, formed in the upper end of the mainframe bars Il for holding the crate portions 1 and 2 in interfittingrelation when the cover is closed.

Secured to the outer face of the cross bars 8 of the cover portion 2,are oppositely ,dis-

In the specific embodiment herekan! posed arms 14 arranged to embracethe main portion 1 of the crate and having their inner ends pivotallyconnected to the adjustable cleats 7 by rivets 15. The improvedarrangement of the' arms 1-1 and cleats 7 provides for the mounting ofthe end portion 2 on a sliding pivot, which permits the portion 2 to bedrawn outwardly to a position where it will clear the corners of therectangular frame portion 1 before it is swung into open position orinto the position for tiltably supporting the crate.

The cover part 2 is locked in its closed position for the purpose ofshipping, by suitable means such as a wire band 16 eX tending around thecrate, or by means of a wedge 17 inserted between one or both cleats 7and the upper edges of the grooves 6, as shown in Figure 2.

To use the crate as a carriage for tiltably supporting the containerwhile its contents are poured, the cover portion 2 is first drawn out tothe position shown in Figure 4, and is then swung around the mainportion 1 into the position shown in Figure 5, so as to form a base orstandard upon which the main portion 1 is tiltably supported. The mainportion of the crate may then be conveniently tilted at any desiredangle for pouring out the contents of the container.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that immerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered oi' omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shipping crate having a pivoted portion normally disposed insubstantially the plane of one face of the crate and shiftable from itsnormal position into a position to tiltably support said crate.

2. A shipping crate having a portion pivotally connected to said crateand arranged t0 normally form one wall thereof, said Wall portion beingshiftable from its normal position into a position to til'tably supportsaid crate.

3. A shipping crate having a portion pivotally connected thereto andarranged to normally form an end closure for the crate, said end portionbeing shiftable from its normal position into a position to foim a basefor tiltably supporting said crate.

1. A shipping crate having aportion pivotally connected thereto andnormally disposed in substantially the plane of one wall of the crate,the axis of said pivoted portion being shiftable relative to the mainportion of the crate so as to permit said pivoted poi'- tion t0 beshifted around said main portion into a position to tiltably supportsaid main portion of the crate.

5. A shipping crate having a portion pivotally connected thereto andarranged to normally form an end closure for the crate, the axis of saidpivoted end portion being shiftable relative to the main portion of thecrate so as to permit said pivoted portion to be drawn out of its normalplane and shifted around said main portion into a position to form abase for tiltably supporting said main portion.

6. A shipping crate having a portion arranged to normally form an endclosure for the main portion of the crate, said crate including a cleathaving a limited relative movement with respect to said main portion,said end portion being pivotally connected to said cleat so as to permitsaid end portion to be drawn out of its normal plane and shifted aroundsaid main portion into a position for tiltably supporting said mainportion.

7. A shipping crate having a rectangular main portion including a pairof cleats ai'- ranged in opposite sides of the crate and shiftablelongitudinally of said main portion, and an end closure portion havingoppositely disposed arms pivotally connected to said cleats so as topermit said end portion to be drawn out of its normal position andshifted into a position for tiltably supporting said main portion.

8. A shipping crate having a rectangular main portion including a pairof cleats arranged in opposite sides of the crate and shiftablelongitudinally of said main portion, and an end portion arranged tonormally form a closure for one end of the crate, said -main and endportions having pai-ts adapted for interfitting engagement when said endportion is closed, said end portion having oppositely disposed inwardlyprojecting arms pivotally connected to said cleats to permit said endportion to be drawn outwardly from its normal position and shiftedaround said main portion into a position to form a base for tiltablysupporting said main portion.

9. A shipping crate having a portion pivotally connected thereto andarranged to normally form an end closure for the crate,

said end portion being shiftable from its f normal position into aposition to form a base for tiltably supporting said crate, and meansfor locking said end closure portion in its normal position.

10. A shipping crate having a portion thereof arranged to normally forma closure for an opening in one side of said crate, said. closureportion being pivotally connected to the main portion of the crate, theaxis of said pivoted portion being shiftable relative to the crate so asto permit said pivoted portion to be drawn out of its normal positionand swung clear of the main portion for opening the crate. I

11. A shipping crate having a rectangular main portion including a pairof cleats end portion to be 'drawn out of its normal arranged inopposite sides of the crate and position and swung clear of said mainporshiftable longitudinally of said main portion forfopening the crate.10 tion, and an end portion arranged to nor- Signed at Chicago this 9day of Augusl 5 Inally form a closure for one end of the 1923.

crate, said end portion having parts pivotally connected to Said cleatsto permit said DON L. QUINN.

